Dame Alison Mariot Leslie, DCMG FRSE (born 25 June 1954), known as Mariot Leslie,[1] is a former British diplomat whose last post was Permanent Representative to NATO.

[2] She was formerly director-general for defence and intelligence at the UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

She began her career in 1977 in the FCO Middle East Department and also held positions in Singapore, Bonn, Paris, Rome and Oslo.

[3] Leslie received an Honorary Doctorate from Heriot-Watt University in 2013.

[5] Born in Edinburgh in 1954, as Mariot Sanderson, she was educated at George Watson's Ladies College, Edinburgh, Leeds Girls' High School and St Hilda's College, Oxford (1972–75).